I took the 5 day WSO Workshop with Kathleen Conover several weeks ago in Silverton, Oregon at the beautiful setting of the Oregon Garden following the spring convention of the Watercolor Society of Oregon.  I have primarily been a realistic painter and for the past several years was venturing out by creating abstract design in my backgrounds but still keeping a focal point that was realistic.  I can share with you that from the minute I heard Kathleen speak about design and composition I knew that I had strayed from my basic foundations learned years ago.  I guess I thought I didn't have to follow the steps on paper as long as I had a plan in my head.  I was fooling myself.  I will now have a plan before I venture to the paper with my brush, mostly because our brains can trick us away from following our plan.  It was a very intense but worthwhile 5 days of learning -- often outside my comfort zone.  We had "starts" in the workshop and three were close to being finished.  There was a lot of lifting and adding paint but I am very happy with the results.  It will be fun to see what comes out of my studio next--allowing myself six months to really work through all the information I have been given and see where it leads.  Thanks you Kathleen for your outstanding teaching!

This painting started with covering the watercolor paper using a wallpaper design tool rolled across the surface with gesso juice mixture.  Once dry, I applied the watercolors which gave an overall design in two tones.  I knew immediately that I wanted to paint a 1925 shoe image which had been requested by a very dear friend (Thanks Kathy Gray).  I didn't have all my paints with me but used a silver pen on the shoe.  I loved that the background comes through in between the silver and black paint.  I had thought of doing the other shoe in the background but it just didn't reflect what I wanted to say.  I searched for period accessories and really anything from this time to add as a collage.  I loved the headpiece of the lady in this painting which seemed like something that the woman would have worn as part of her outfit.

The next step was a first for me.  I applied mat medium to the front of the female image and let each layer dry -- 6 coats in all.  Waiting 72 hours to soak and lift off the acrylic tray I used and then scraping off the paper from the image.  I let it dry but had to scrape a few more times.  Finally I decided to put her in a period frame (which actually is a door in France). and added white watercolor inside the frame to create the mystery and aging to the photo.  I used more mat medium top and bottom of the photo -- not sure that was totally correct but it worked.  

Now I need your help in naming it.  The person who comes up with the best title will get 5 fine art cards when I have them made in a couple of weeks.  CONGRATULATIONS Dee Rommel for suggesting the title I thought expressed what I wanted to convey in this painting:  LOOKING BACK, "THE DANCE."

​  COMMENTS are always welcomed!!